Colorado Crush game notes
March 13, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Colorado Crush News Release
QUICK FACTS:
Colorado Crush (1-1) vs. Arizona Rattlers (0-2)
Date: March 16, 2007
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. MT
Site: Pepsi Center (18,093)
Television: FSN Rocky Mountain (Tim Neverett: play-by-play, Joel Klatt: analyst, Tom Helmer, sidelines)
* the game will air on tape delay at 8:30 p.m. MT
Radio: 850 KOA (Marc Stout: play-by-play, Andy Lindahl: analyst, Corey Lopez: sidelines)
Coaches: Mike Dailey, Colorado (100-65, 11th Yr)
Gene Nudo, Arizona (9-10, 2nd Yr)
Officials: Referee: Dennis Lipski
Umpire: Rick Nelson
Head Linesman: Kavin McGrath
Line Judge: Darrel Leftwich
Back Judge: Rich Wilborn
Series Record: All-time series tied at 3-3
Colorado 45, @ Arizona 72 (3/16/03) @ Colorado 48, Arizona 59 (5/18/03)
@ Colorado 54, Arizona 46 (3/27/04)
Colorado 41, @ Arizona 45 * (6/13/04)
Colorado 74, @ Arizona 69 (2/19/05)
@ Colorado 59, Arizona 35 (5/12/06)
*indicates postseason game
THE GAME:
The Colorado Crush close out a three-game home stand when they host the Arizona Rattlers on Friday, Match 16th at 7:00 p.m. at Pepsi Center.
Colorado and Arizona have faced each other six times with both teams capturing three wins apiece. However, the Crush have won three of the last four meetings, including a 59-35 home victory in the season finale last year.
Friday's match-up will feature one of the AFL's top scoring offenses against one of its top defenses. Arizona comes into the game averaging 68 points per contest (second best in the AFL), while Colorado boasts the league's fourth ranked scoring defense only allowing 42 points per game.
Currently, the Crush are in a four-way tie atop the Central Division with Chicago, Grand Rapids and Kansas City all with similar 1-1 records. Arizona enters the game still looking for their first win of the season. Despite carrying an 0-2 record, the Rattlers have been close to capturing that first win losing both contests by a combined eight points. Last week, Arizona fell to Utah 74-71 after the Blaze took the lead with only 14 seconds remaining in the game. The Rattlers hope to avoid an 0-3 start to the year for a second consecutive season.
Arizona quarterback Sherderick Bonner, who ranks in the top 5 in almost every career AFL passing category, is second in the league having thrown for 15 touchdowns already this season. Bonner and company will have their work cut out for them though as the Crush defense will be ready, led by the AFL's leading tackler Rashad Floyd.
The game will also showcase two the league's post-season award winners from a year ago. Colorado's Damian Harrell, 2005 & 2006 Offensive Player of the Year, and Arizona's Randy Gatewood, 2006 Ironman of the Year.
PRACTICE SCHEDULE:
Tues, Mar. 13- 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 p.m.
Practice at Mile High Racing
Wed, Mar. 14- 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 p.m.
Practice at Mile High Racing
Thurs, Mar. 15- 10:00 a.m.
Walk-through
Fri, Mar. 16- Crush vs. Arizona Rattlers
7:00 p.m. MT at Pepsi Center
Sat, Mar. 17- Players Off Day
THE SCHEDULE:
COLORADO CRUSH (0-1)
Date OPPONENT RESULT SCORE
Mar. 4 GRAND RAPIDS L 42-44
Mar. 10 KANSAS CITY W 44-40
Mar. 16 ARIZONA
Mar. 22 @ Philadelphia
Apr. 1 NASHVILLE
Apr. 6 @ San Jose
Apr. 15 @ New York
Apr. 20 LAS VEGAS
Apr. 27 @ Kansas City
May 7 @ Chicago
May 11 @ Nashville
May 18 COLUMBUS
May 26 @ Grand Rapids
June 4 @ Utah
June 18 CHICAGO
June 25 DALLAS
CRUSH NEXT WEEK:
The Crush head out for their first road game of the season for a Week 4 encounter with the Philadelphia Soul on Thursday, March 22nd.
Colorado holds a 4-0 edge in the Rock vs. Jock battle of John Elway against Jon Bon Jovi. The Crush-Soul Thursday night contest will be televised on ESPN2 at 5:00 p.m. MT.
STATISTICS:
A look at how Colorado and Arizona match-up based on 2007 regular season statistics:
Statistical COL ARIZ
Category Stat Stat
Scoring Offense 43.0 68.0
Scoring Defense 42.0 72.0
Total Offense (yds/g) 284.0 371.0
Total Defense (yds/g) 244.0 386.5
Pass Offense 280.5 339.5
Pass Defense 228.5 385.0
Rushing Offense 3.5 31.5
Rushing Defense 15.5 1.5
Passer Rating 102.5 123.1
Def. Passer Rating 113.6 135.1
Kickoff Returns (y/rtn) 6-47 16-204
MFG Returns 0 0
Turnover Margin -2 +0
Field Goals 3-5 1-2
PATs 11-11 13-19
First Downs 45 59
Opp. First Downs 38 43
Penalties (yds/g) 45.0 19.0
Sacks By 3-11 0-0
Sacks Against 1-0 1-1
Time of Possession 28:00 34:38
Red Zone Offense 8-10 10-10
Red Zone Defense 8-11 7-7
CONNECTIONS:
Crush FB/LB John Peaua started his AFL career with Arizona, playing his first three seasons (2001-03) in the desert before joining the Crush in 2004 ... Arizona owner Bob Hernreich is a Vail resident and is a certified snowboard instructor. An extremely active outdoorsman, Hernreich is a member of the Snowboard Outreach Society and serves on the Board of Directors of K2. Inc. and the Vail Valley Foundation.
RECENT TRANSACTIONS:
Jan. 10, 2007- Signed FB/LB Lyonel Anderson, DB Jammal Lord. Waived OL/DL Seante Williams.
Jan. 22, 2007- Signed DB James Taylor.
Jan. 31, 2007- Signed DB Jason Harmon.
Feb. 7, 2007- Signed DL Joe Massey, DL George Peterson, WR Brad Pyatt, LB Kelvin Robinson. Placed on Injured Reserve OL/DL Craig Heimburger. Placed on Physically Unable to Perform OL Brett Huyser. Placed on Refused to Report K Jason Ball, OL/DL Aaron Johnson.
Feb. 9, 2007- Signed QB Brandon Kirsch.
Feb. 13, 2007- Activated from Refused to Report K Jason Ball. Waived DB Bobby Antee.
Feb. 16, 2007- Placed on Injured Reserve WR/DB Robert Redd.
Feb. 19, 2007- Signed K Greg Kuehn.
Feb. 25, 2007- Activated from Injured Reserve WR/DB Robert Redd. Re-Signed WR Willie Quinnie and OL/DL Chris Watton. Placed on Injured Reserve OL Brett Huyser. Placed on Recallable Waivers WR Chauncey Stovall. Waived Injured FB/LB Lyonel Anderson, OL/DL Craig Heimburger and WR Jim Lukowiak. Waived FB Terrell Browden, FB/LB B.J. Dean, K Greg Kuehn, DB Jammal Lord, WR Triandos Luke, DL Joe Massey, DL Justin Parrish, DL George Peterson, LB Kelvin Robinson, DB James Taylor and DL Ed Wangler. Released QB Jose Davis and WR/DB Ahmad Hawkins.
Feb 26, 2007- Placed on Recallable DB Jason Harmon. Released WR/DB Willis Marshall and WR/LB Andy McCullough.
Feb, 27, 2007- Signed to the Practice Squad WR Chauncey Stovall.
Feb. 28, 2007- Recalled from Waivers DB Jason Harmon. Re-Signed OL/DL Kyle Moore-Brown and FB/LB Saul Patu. Placed on Recallable Waivers DL Quinn Dorsey.
March 2, 2007- Signed FB/LB Robert Thomas. Recalled from Waivers DL Quinn Dorsey. Placed on Injured Reserve DL Quinn Dorsey and DB Jason Harmon.
March 12- Signed to the Practice Squad DB Chris Angel.
THE CRUSH THIS SEASON ARE:
O H R
Overall Record 1-1 1-1 0-0
Overtime Games 0-0 0-0 0-0
Score first 1-1 1-1 0-0
Opponent scores first 0-0 0-0 0-0
Score 40+ points 1-1 1-1 0-0
Score less than 40 points 0-0 0-0 0-0
Games decided by 10+ pts 0-0 0-0 0-0
Games decided by 7 pts or less 1-1 1-1 0-0
Games decided by 3 pts or less 0-1 0-1 0-0
Lead at halftime 1-1 1-1 0-0
Trail at halftime 0-0 0-0 0-0
Are tied at halftime 0-0 0-0 0-0
Lead after 3rd quarter 0-0 0-0 0-0
Trail after 3rd quarter 0-1 0-1 0-0
Are tied after 3rd quarter 1-0 1-0 0-0
Lead time of possession 0-0 0-0 0-0
Trail time of possession 1-1 1-1 0-0
Positive turnover margin 0-0 0-0 0-0
Negative turnover margin 0-1 0-1 0-0
Even turnover margin 1-0 1-0 0-0
More total yards offense 0-1 0-1 0-0
Less total yards offense 1-0 1-0 0-0
On Fridays 0-0 0-0 0-0
On Saturdays 1-0 1-0 0-0
On Sundays 0-1 0-1 0-0
vs. American Conference 1-1 1-1 0-0
vs. Central Division 1-1 1-1 0-0
vs. Western Division 0-0 0-0 0-0
vs. National Conference 0-0 0-0 0-0
vs. Eastern Division 0-0 0-0 0-0
vs. Southern Division 0-0 0-0 0-0
HEAD COACHES:
MIKE DAILIEY, Colorado (100-65, 11th Year): Mike Dailey enters his fourth season in Colorado and 11th as head coach in the AFL, after becoming the Crush's second head coach on June 26, 2003. Dailey joined the Crush following 13 seasons in the Albany/Indiana Firebirds organization, including the final seven as head coach.
One of the most successful and well-respected coaches in AFL history, Dailey's teams have compiled an overall record of 100-65 record, a winning percentage of 60.7. His teams have also made eight postseason appearances and he has won five division titles and two championships. Following the Crush's 44-40 victory over Kansas City on March 10, 2007, Dailey became only the fourth head coach in AFL history to surpass the 100 win mark. He currently stands as the league fourth all-time winningest coach.
In his first season in Colorado, Dailey helped guide the Crush to the largest turnaround in AFL history, inheriting a 2-14 team and leading them to an 11-5 record in 2004. In 1999, Dailey led the Albany Firebirds to their only ArenaBowl championship and was named AFL Coach of the Year. Before being named head coach of the Firebirds in 1997, Dailey served as an assistant in Albany for five seasons.
Dailey began his AFL coaching career with the Washington Commandos where he served as offensive/defensive line coach in 1990. He joined the Firebirds organization in the same capacity in 1991.
Prior to the AFL, Dailey worked as an assistant coach at Towson State University and was the offensive coordinator at Montgomery College-Rockville (Md.). Dailey got his start in coaching in 1981 as a 22-year-old assistant at Georgetown Prep High School in Rockville, Md. The move to coaching followed a semi-pro football career in the Washington D.C. area.
All-Time Winningest AFL Coaches
Including Postseason
Rank Name-Team Wins
1. Tim Marcum- Tampa Bay 181
2. Danny White- Utah 150
3. Mike Hohensee- Chicago 107
4. Mike Dailey- Colorado 100
5. Darren Arbet- San Jose 94
6. Perry Moss- not active 86
7. Michael Trigg- not active 80
8. Jay Gruden- Orlando 77
GENE NUDO, Arizona (9-10, 2nd Year): Gene Nudo, the AFL's only three-time Executive of the Year, is celebrating his 13th season with the Arizona Rattlers and second as the team's head coach.
In his first year as head coach, Nudo led the Rattlers to an 8-8 regular season record and their 13th playoff appearance in franchise history after a one year absence. He guided the Rattlers to the American Conference Semifinal after a Wild Card Round playoff victory over Utah.
Nudo, who joined the Rattlers as an assistant head coach in 1995 after serving as the Arena Football League's Vice President of Football Operations, became the team's Vice President of Administration the following season. Nudo has also served as the team's Vice President of Operations for eight seasons before becoming general manager in 2004.
While overseeing day-to-day football operations, Nudo helped the Rattlers earn five consecutive commissioner awards for the AFL's "Best Organization" (1996-2000) while earning an unprecedented three "Executive of the Year" awards (1997, 1999, 2000). Formerly a member of the AFL Board of Directors Executive Committee, Nudo has also served as the chairman of the AFL's Rules and Competition Committee and as a member of the league's Labor Relations Committee. Nudo is currently the chairman of the rules and competition subcommittee. He was instrumental in helping the AFL and its players enter into an interim collective bargaining agreement in 2000.
During the 2002 season, Nudo was awarded the AFL's prestigious Founder's Award, given to a person that has dedicated his life and career to the growth and improvement of Arena Football.
A true pioneer in the AFL, Nudo coached the first-ever Arena Football games in Rockford, Ill. (1986), as well as it's "Showcase Game" in Rosemont, Ill. (1987). He would later serve as the Director of Player Personnel and assistant coach for the Chicago Bruisers (1987-88), helping guide them to a berth in ArenaBowl II. In his 12 seasons at the team level, Nudo's franchises have competed in five ArenaBowls, winning one with the Rattlers in 1997.
LAST TIME THESE TEAMS MET:
DENVER (5/12/06) -- Individual accolades were in abundant supply for the Colorado Crush on Friday night, but it's the team's accomplishment that will have lasting impact.
The 59-35 win over the Arizona Rattlers saw the Crush dominate in every facet of the game. Colorado scored on eight consecutive offensive possessions, coaxed the game's only turnover from the Rattlers in the game's opening moments and recovered an on-sidek kickoff on special teams to take control of the game and clinch the top seed in the American Conference playoffs, giving the team home-field advantage through the conference finals for a second consecutive season.
First, though, the Crush must use its forthcoming bye week properly -- to get healthy.
The team placed Saul Patu on injured reserve earlier this month, and lineman Aaron Johnson sat out Friday's game.
Harrell was on during Friday night's win, though, scoring on all five of his receptions and adding a touchdown on an end-zone fumble recovery. His scores gave him a league-record 61 for the season, including 60 on receptions, although he ultimately came up short in his bid to set the league's record for receptions.
Colorado controlled the tempo throughout the game scored on the first two plays from scrimmage and never relinquished the lead, taking a quick 14-0 edge on a 16-yard Harrell touchdown reception and Marshall's 10-yard interception return.
Arizona would pull within seven points on three occasions in the first half, but the Crush scored used a late-second-quarter on-side kickoff to connect two touchdown drives that gave the team a 42-21 halftime lead.
The Rattlers never drew closer than 14 points after that.
CRUSH LAST WEEK:
DENVER (3/10/07)- Colorado Crush head coach Mike Dailey secured his 100th career AFL coaching victory with a 44-40 win over the Kansas City Brigade in front of 15,126 fans at Pepsi Center Saturday night. With the win, Dailey becomes only the fourth head coach in AFL history to have 100 or more career wins.
Kansas City (1-1) would pull even twice in the contest, but would never take the lead as Colorado (1-1) held on for their first victory of the season.
Kicker Jason Ball connected on a 21-yard field goal on Colorado's first possession to give the Crush an early 3-0 lead. Ball would go a perfect 3-for-3 on his field goal attempts and 5-for-5 on PATs on the night.
Colorado built a 17-7 advantage, following a Brigade four-and-out, when Offensive Player of the Game Willie Quinnie hauled in a 7-yard touchdown strike from John Dutton. Kansas City would answer with 10 seconds remaining in the half as wide receiver Charles Frederick caught a 6-yard pass from Raymond Philyaw to cut the Colorado lead to 17-14. Unfortunately for the Brigade, the ten seconds remaining in the half proved to be too much time for the Crush offense, as Colorado drove 13 yards setting up a Ball 38-yard field goal as time expired.
Kansas City would score on their first drive of the second half as Jerel Myers caught a 4-yard pass from Philyaw, but the ensuing PAT was blocked by Colorado leaving the score at 20 apiece. The Brigade would also tie the score at 27-27 at the end of the third quarter when Philyaw found Cyron Brown for a 7-yard score.
The game's turning point however came when the Crush defense forced their second four-and-out of the game on K.C.'s first possession of the fourth quarter. Colorado was able to capitalize on the defensive stop when Ball connected on his third field goal of the night from 22 yards out, giving the Crush a 10-point lead, 37-27. Philyaw's fifth touchdown pass of the game, to Myers from 24-yards with 27 seconds left, cut the Colorado lead to four points, which proved to be the game's difference.
THINGS TO WATCH:
YOUNG BLOOD:
The Colorado Crush took the field in Week 1 with four rookies on their active roster. Not since head coach Mike Dailey's arrival to Colorado in 2004 has he had that many first-year players on his Crush active roster to begin a season.
# OF ROOKIES ON ACTIVE ROSTER
2004- 4
2005- 0
2006- 2
2007- 4
LOCAL TIES:
This season the Crush have found a lot of good-young talent right in their back yard. Here is a list of players that have Colorado ties:
- DL QUINN DORSEY attended Manual High School in Denver.
- FB/LB ANTHONY DUNN attended Centauri High School in Manassa, CO and later played at the University of Northern Colorado.
- OL BRETT HUYSER played his collegiate football at the Air Force Academy.
- WR BRAD PYATT has played football at all three levels of his career in Colorado (Arvada West High School, Northern Colorado and the Crush).
BUILDING A WINNING TRADITION:
The Crush are the winningest team in the AFL regular season since head coach Mike Dailey's arrival, having tied for the league's best record in 2004 (11-5) and finishing with the American Conference's top seed in 2005 (10-6) and 2006 (11-5).
Team '04 '05 '06 '07 Total
Colorado 11 10 11 1 33
Orlando 10 10 10 1 31
San Jose 11 9 10 1 31
New York 9 10 10 0 29
Chicago 11 9 7 1 28
Tampa Bay 9 10 7 0 26
Los Angeles 9 10 5 1 25
HIGH FIVE:
For his career, WR Damian Harrell has racked up 11 games in which he has hauled in five touchdown receptions. Below is the AFL's all-time career 5-TD game list, the active players with 5-TD career games and the players with the most since 2006.
AFL's all-time career 5-TD games
21 Eddie Brown (not active)
20 Barry Wagner (not active)
12 Chris Jackson (GA)
11 Damian Harrell (Col)
AFL's active players career 5-TD games
12 Chris Jackson (GA)
11 Damian Harrell (Col)
8 Siaha Burley (Utah)
7 Marcus Nash (Dal)
6 Mike Horacek (NY) & Kevin Swayne (NY)
ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH:
After finishing their inaugural season 0-8 at home, the Crush are now 22-6 under Mike Dailey (2-1 in the postseason) at Pepsi Center. Two of the five losses consist of a field goal in overtime (42-45) vs. Indiana in 2004 and a 51-48 Chicago win in 2005 on a field goal with three seconds remaining.
LET'S MAKE IT THREE:
Last season, Colorado was the only team to repeat as a division champion. This year, they'll look to become the first team since the New York Dragons (2003-2005) to repeat as divisional champions in three consecutive seasons.
2005 2006
Central Division Colorado Colorado
Western Division Los Angeles San Jose
Southern Division Georgia Orlando
Eastern Division New York Dallas
HE KEEPS GOING & GOING & GOING....:
A true AFL Ironman, Kyle Moore-Brown is in his 13th season in the league and has never missed a game. ArenaBowl XIX marked his AFL record 176th consecutive start. The first 139 all came with the Firebirds organization before he signed with the Crush prior to the 2004 season.
AFL Record for Consecutive Games
Player (current team) Reg. Season Playoffs Total
Kyle Moore-Brown (Col)* 176 19 195
Otis Moore (GR) 153 1 155
*streak current
AMONG THE BEST:
Here is a break-down on where some of the Crush players rank in the AFL in various categories this season:
PLAYER CATEGORY AFL RANK
K- Jason Ball
PAT % T-1st
Scoring (Kickers) 5th
FB/LB- Anthony Dunn
Sacks 7th
QB- John Dutton
Completions T-5th
Attempts 5th
Passing TDs T-10th
Passing Yards 8th
DB- Rashad Floyd
Tackles 1st
WR- Damian Harrell
Scoring T-9th
Scoring (TDs) T-9th
A BROKEN RECORD:
WR Damian Harrell has caught a touchdown pass in an AFL record 67 straight regular season games, including all 64 games as a member of the Crush. That streak is also the longest active streak of consecutive games scoring a TD. He broke the record for consecutive games with a receiving touchdown on 4/3/05 in the win over Las Vegas and set the mark consecutive games with a TD on 3/4/07 vs. Grand Rapids. Harrell's streak began with the Toronto Phantoms vs. Carolina on 7/4/02.
AFL Consecutive Games with a TD Reception
Year (Week)
Player (team) Stk began Stk ended # Games
Damian Harrell (Tor/Col) 2002 (Wk 12) --- 67
Eddie Brown (Albany) 1997 (Wk 3) 2000 (Wk 1) 41
Eddie Brown (Albany) 1994 (Wk 1) 1996 (Wk 14) 33
AFL Consecutive Games Scoring a Touchdown
Year (Week)
Player (team) Stk began Stk ended # Games
Damian Harrell (Tor/Col) 2002 (Wk 12) --- 67
Eddie Brown (Alb/Ind) 1997 (Wk 3) 2002 (Wk 3) 65
Chris Jackson (LA) 2000 (Wk 1) 2003 (Wk 14) 47
Barry Wagner (Orlando) 1992 (Wk 10) 1996 (Wk 11) 43
Eddie Brown (Albany) 1994 (Wk 1) 1996 (Wk 14) 33
AFL Consecutive Games Scoring a Touchdown (Active)
Year (Week)
Player (team) Stk began Stk ended # Games
Damian Harrell (Tor/Col) 2002 (Wk 12) --- 67
Chris Jackson (LA/GR/Geo) 2005 (Wk 2) --- 28
STEEL CURTAIN:
After allowing 14 sacks in 2003 (12 on Dutton), the Crush pass protection has been stellar under head coach Mike Dailey.
The team allowed just four sacks in 2004, and none after Week 6. In 2005, Colorado allowed just six sacks, while holding 10 opponents sackless on the year.
Since 2004, the Crush have allowed just 17 sacks in their last 42 regular season games (total of 1,968 plays).
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